First Look: Bella’s Italian Bakery & Market

The focaccia and cannoli have landed in Lents.

It’s hard to find good, freshly fried-and-filled cannoli in this city. It’s even harder to find sfogliatella—a buttery, multilayered Italian staple. As of November 3, Portlanders can find archetypal versions of these Italian-American gems, along with “grass pie,” cold cut sandwiches (on house bread), and doughnutty lemon ciambella at Bella’s Italian Market, a bakery and curated marketplace at Southeast 91st and Woodstock.

Michelle Vernier, a Detroit-born pastry chef who spent time at Paley’s Place and Imperial before launching her own Italian baked goods operation at the Lents Farmers Market, stocks the pastry case at her new shop with treats from her Italian-American upbringing. You’ll also find Trailhead Coffee, a curated list of beer and wine, and, soon, short breakfast and lunch menus. The “market” side is still a work in progress, but Vernier hopes to have shelves stocked with her favorite local and imported foodstuffs in the coming months. Opening hours are 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Sundays. Check out the slideshow above for more buttery goodness.